3 veteran free agents 49ers can still target on the cheap
By Peter Panacy
49ers low-cost free-agent target No. 3: Safety Terrell Edmunds
The 49ers seem poised to stay away from former starting strong safety Jaquiski Tartt once he hit the open market, and it’s just as possible Tartt is seeking a much bigger contract than the team-friendly one-year deal he inked a year ago.
Perhaps there’s a reunion. But for now, the Niners appear poised to start either second-year pro Talanoa Hufanga, reserve defensive back Tarvarius Moore or recent free-agent pickup, George Odum, in Tartt’s stead.
Hufanga’s coverage skills were lacking in his rookie season, though, and he might not be much more than a special teams ace, which is what Odum has been for the bulk of his career. Moore, meanwhile, is working his way back from a torn Achilles suffered last offsason. That’s a question mark, too.
If San Francisco wants some starting-caliber experience, it could do worse than target 25-year-old former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds, a first-round NFL Draft pick out of 2018 who has been a starter all four years of his career.
Granted, Edmunds was a big reason why Pittsburgh’s run defense struggled last season, but the context of joining a much better 49ers run defense has to be taken into consideration.
Plus, there’s still plenty of room for Edmunds to grow as a quality impact player.